People have reacted angrily to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s claim that he is open and honest and that he tells the truth, despite admitting that he is sometimes “controversial” and that what he says “offends people”. Mr Johnson took part in an interview with journalist and presenter Susanna Reid on Tuesday morning- (May 4) on ITV’s breakfast news programme Good Morning Britain.
Incredibly, it was his first interview on the programme as Prime Minister - the last time he appeared on the show was back in 2017 when he was foreign secretary. The interview took place live in a study at Number 10 Downing Street and caused quite a stir among viewers. You can get the latest WalesOnline newsletters e-mailed to you directly for free by signing up here.
When he was asked about the struggles of a 77-year-old woman who sometimes rode the bus just so she could avoid putting her heating on at home and reduce her energy bills due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, he said the 24-freedom bus pass used by the woman was something that he himself introduced.
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He also spoke about what he and the UK Government was doing to help people fleeing war-torn Ukraine, and caused some bafflement and hilarity when he appeared to not know who Lorraine Kelly was. You can read the full details of the interview here.
Another key issue discussed was the ‘partygate scandal’. When quizzed by Reid, Johnson insisted he was an honest man and that he was only “inadvertently” wrong when he previously addressed Parliament on the matter, amid accusations that he misled MPs in Westminster. You can get more politics news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Despite being fined for breaching lockdown rules, he said: “I do my best to represent faithfully and accurately what I believe, and sometimes it’s controversial and sometimes it offends people, but that’s what I do.” When pressed on the matter, he said: “I have apologised for the things we got wrong during the pandemic. I’m getting on with the job that I was elected to do and discharge the mandate that I was given, and I’m proud of what we have been doing.” A new poll suggests a Labour surge in Wales' 2022 council elections. You can read more about that here.
However, many WalesOnline readers reacted to the interview with cynicism and anger, clearly disagreeing with the Prime Minister’s assessment that he was an honest person. Viks Peplow said on Facebook: “Her opening question - 'are you honest?' - should have been promptly followed up with - how can you declare honesty when you’ve been proven a liar AND been fined for it?”
John Trew said: “He said, ‘I represent faithfully and accurately what I believe.’ This is true! He believes that he is above the rest of us. That the ordinary rules of morality, integrity and honest don’t apply to him. His life and actions shows us that quite clearly.” Meanwhile, Steven Williams said: “Oh he’s offended a lot of people alright - by having lockdown parties and lying about them and sneering at everyone else who’s been abiding by the rules no matter how difficult they’ve been.”
Lionel Wynn-Jones said: "Show me a politician and I will show you a liar. Apologies to any good ones out there but I have lost all faith in those who run the country or want to”, while Paul Shaw shared that sentiment by commenting: “He does not understand how people are suffering; all these so called MPs just look after the richest and themselves.”
It wasn’t all one-way traffic, however, with the Prime Minister getting some support from readers who instead criticised the tone of the interview conducted by Susanna. Nicci James said: “She got on my nerves talking over him. She’s so up herself.” This opinion was shared by Emma Harris who wrote: “She spoke over him the whole time. I’m surprised he sat there that long!”
Tracey House commented: “I normally love Susanna on GMB, but she just kept talking over him while he was trying to answer. I could see her frustration at him not addressing the issues properly or honestly but I had to switch off the TV in the end as the whole thing was just annoying.”
Jane Phillips said: “We all knew who Boris was when we voted for him massively. I think the media are trying to run this country and discredit who they don’t want in authority", while Gillian Stanley said: “Love our Boris, you should have told the horrible jumped-up so-called presenter Susanna who loves the sound of her own voice to go do one.”
Meanwhile, Glenys Sharp said: “What a waste of a 20 minute Interview with Boris Johnson. The whole time Susanna Reed spoke over him, uncomfortable viewing, I had to turn off in the end. Journalism at its worst. Absolutely awful.”
Among other things, Mr Johnson received widespread criticism for not appearing to know who Lorraine Kelly was, despite her having been the host of a popular morning show on ITV for years and being known to millions of British people. Following his “who’s Lorraine” faux pas, the Prime Minster’s spokesperson said: “I think as was clear, the Prime Minister was not fully across ITV’s daytime line-up this morning. You will appreciate he has a number of issues to deal with on his desk.”
